Light bulb carton and overwrap therefor



Sept. 22, 1959 H. w. FORRER 2,905,316

LIGHT BULB CARTON AND OVERWRAP THEREFOR l Filed sept. 2s, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 JNVENToR. flo/VER W Fammi? Sept. 22, 1959 H. w. FoRRER 2,905,316

LIGH'I BULB CARTON AND OVERWRAP THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. ME M. F ORE l? A TTOR/VEV Sept. 22, 1959 H. W. FORRER LIGHT BULB CARTON AND OVERWRAP THEREFOR Filed Sept. 23, 1957 (5120@ @rizo/Q Flugl- 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZIO- i" 23a l #awe/P w. FOR/am rzf fem Sept. 22, 1959 H. w. FoRRER 2,905,316

LIGHT BULB CARTON AND OVERWRAP THEREFOR Filed sept. 23, 1957 5 sheets-sneu 5 JNVENTQR. lio/wf@ m Foppe/i 4 TTORNEKS LIGHT BULB CARTON AND OVERWRAP TI-IEREFOR Homer W. Forrer, Atlanta, Ga., assigner to Mead- Atlanta Paper Company, a corporation of Ohio pplication September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,556

-13 Claims. (Cl. 206--65) This invention relates to open-ended, sleeve type cartons such as are used for packaging light bulbs, and more particularly to an improved form of carton of this sort in which a unique partition arrangement is incorporated; in which the carton structure is formed from a blank that is completely nestable so as to be cut Without appreciable waste; and for which an overwrap is provided that allows packaging of a plurality of said cartons to particular advantage.

These and other features of the present invention are describedin detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating the improved carton structure of the present invention; y I

Fig. 2 isa further perspective view showing in collapsed position the carton illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is,a transversesectional detail of the collapsed carton takensubstantially at the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4'is an end view. showing the carton in the course of erectionfrom the collapsed position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the erect carton as seen from the near end in Fig. 1; Fig.- 6 isa .plan view of the blank for the carton illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, in which the nestable arrangement of this blank with like blanks is indicated in dotted lines; VV,Fig.',7 isa perspective View of an overwrapped package containing a pair of cartons of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5;A

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the 'line 8 8 in Fig. `7; n Y

' Fig. v9 is a further sectional detail taken substantially on the'line'9-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. y1,0 is a plan view of the blank for the oveiwrap villustrated in Figs. 7 to 9; Fig. '11 isa plan view of a modified form of overwrap;

Fig. 12is a perspective view of a package formed with the overwrap blank illustrated in Fig. l1;

. Fig.V 13 is van end View of the package illustrated in Fig. `l2 as seen from the far end thereof; and Fig. ,14 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially at the line 14-14 in Fig. 13.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly at `first to Figs. 1 through 5, which illustrate the improved sleeve type carton structure of the present invention as designated generally therein by the reference numeral 10, the carton structure illustrated comprises four side Walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 foldably hinged in series and paired in opposed relation with a 'ap member V20 foldably hinged on one terminal side '-wall 18 `of the series and secured at the inner face of 'the other'iterminal side wall 12 over a continuous length- -Wise area adjacent the free edge thereof.

' The ilap member 20 is further specially formed with an` extending` unsecured intermediate portion that is diag- 'onally scored with respect to the side Wall 12 at which it is secured and that is proportioned beyond this diagonal score for standing uprightly as a diagonal partition 22 within the carton structure 10 upon erection thereof, and for automatically assuming this partitioning position upon such erection.

Fig. 1 shows the erected carton structure 10 with a pair of light bulbs B contained therein, the side walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 being proportioned in width to enclose the bulbous ends of the light bulbs B in gripping relation and in length to contain the bulbs B with the base ends thereof nested at opposite sides of the diagonal partition 22. The carton structure 10 is formed of corrugated paperboard, as is usual, with the corrugations arranged to run widthwise of the side walls, as seen in Fig. 1, and consequently extending angularly of and thereby additionally stitfening the diagonal partition 22, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which the carton structure 10 is collapsible to a dat condition, and Fig. 3 further shows the relative extent of the intermediate portion of flap member 20 reaching in excess of the Width of the side wall 12 at which it is secured so as to dispose the diagonal partition 22 for automatic erection, as previously mentioned and as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4, the carton structure 10 is shown partially erected from the collapsed Fig. 3 position with the adjacent end edge of the diagonal partition 22 bearing at the inner face of side Wall 14 and being automatically forced thereby to the erect position shown in Fig. 5 upon complete erection of the carton structure 10.

The particular form preferred according to the present invention for the flap member 20 and diagonal partition 22 formed thereon is illustrated best in Fig. 6 which shows the form of blank employed for the carton structure 10 as seen in Figs. l to 5. This blank is mainly rectangular in form and is scored widthwise at 24, 26 and 28 to provide the foldably hinged series of side walls 12, 14, 16 and 18; the side Wall 1S being defined by a further score 30` at which the ap member 20 is foldably hinged thereon, and the ap member 20 being diagonally scored at 32 for foldably hinging the diagonal partition 22 in the intermediate extending portion thereof.

The partition 22 is proportioned in general beyond the diagonal score 32 with a length parallel to the axis of the score 32 corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across the side wall 12 on this axis and a related Width corresponding substantially to the width of the adjacent side Walls 14 and 18. The partition 22 might in fact be formed rectangularly in these proportions (as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 6) if desired, but for several reasons it is preferably given a specially formed outline based on these proportions. In the first place, it is advisable to relieve the near corner 34 of partition 22 in parallel relation to the side wall hinging score 30 for ap member 20 in order to provide a continuous lengthwise portion of ap member 20 for securing adjacent the free edge of side wall 12, as previously mentioned.

In addition, the far end edge 36 of partition 22 is advantageously angled with respect to the diagonal score 32 so as to `form an acute partition corner thereat and thereby incline the end partition edge 36 for riding smoothly over the corrugations at the opposed inner face of side wall 14 during erection of the carton structure 10; the corrugated paperboard normally used for cartons of this sort being single faced with the corrugations arranged inwardly so that they can make erection of the partition 22 diicult if its end edge 36 is formed squarely. When the end partition edge 36 is inclined in the above noted manner, however, the result is to incline correspondingly the erect position of partition 22 short of a fully perpendicular upright relation with respect to the Side wall 12, and the extending top partition edge 38 accordingly should have a related inclination so that it can assume a substantially parallel disposition with respect to the adjacent carton side wall 16 upon erection. Likewise, this top partition edge 38 should be extended somewhat in length to an adjacent end edge portion 40 in order to reach diagonally across the adjacent side wall 16 at the inclined erect position of partition 22.

Finally, the adjacent end partition edge is notched at 42 so that the ap member 20 can be made to provide a double wall bearing surface for the bulbous ends of light bulbs B nested in the carton structure at each side of the diagonal partition 22. This double wall bearing surface is provided for at the right hand side of the Fig. 6 blank by an angular disposition of the diagonal score 32 so that the ap member 20 has a width from its side wall hinging score 30 that exceeds one-half the width of side wall 12 over a length reaching from a point intermediate the length of diagonal score 32 to the right hand end of flap member 20 in Fig. 6. Accordingly, when nap member 20 is secured to side wall 12 this portion will extend suiciently to provide a bearing surface for the bulbous end of the adjacent light bulb B and form with the side wall 12 a double wall thereat. The end edge notching of partition 22 at 42 allows the ap member 20 to be formed with a comparable widthwise extent at its other end to the left in Fig. 6, so that added protection for the bulbs B is alorded -at this side of the carton structure 10 which can be taken advantage of in packing or stacking groups of the loaded light bulb cartons if desired.

The partition 22 is further specially arranged according to the present invention in that the angular disposition of the diagonal score 32 therefor is additionally selected not only for arranging the flap member 20 with the above described widthwise extent toward its ends, but also for maintaining the ap member 20 and extending partition portion 22 thereof completely nestable in inverted relation with the corresponding parts of a like blank so that such blanks may be formed without appreciable waste by cutting from a running web in two series each arranged lengthwise of the side walls thereof and inverted with respect to each other, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The present invention also provides, as previously noted, for overwrapping a plurality of the cartons 10 to form a multiple package thereof. Such a package is indicated generally by the reference numeral 100 in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 proportioned to contain a pair of cartons 10 enclosing light bulbs B. The overwrap for this package 100 is formed from a substantially rectangular blank, as seen in Fig. l0, that is folded and Secured about the cartons 10 to cover the open ends and opposite pairs of adjacent side walls thereof. For this purpose, the overwrap blank is transversely scored at 102, 104, 106 and 108 to dene a substantially central end wall panel 110 therein, with a pair of side wall panels 112 and 114 foldably hinged at opposite edges thereof, and a pair of lap panels 116 and 118 foldably hinged on the respective side wall panels 112 and 114 for overlapping and securing to form a composite overwrap end wall opposite the end wall panel 110.

For securing the overwrap about the cartons 10, the outer lap panel 118 is preferably formed with locking tabs 120 yadjacent the free edge thereof aligned with openings cut out at 122 in the other lap panel 116 to form retaining tabs therein as disclosed at length in U.S. Patent No. 2,786,572, the locking tabs 120 in securing position being extended from the lap panel 118 inwardly through the other lap panel 116 at the openings formed therein by the retaining tabs 122 for engagement in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 and disclosed further in the above noted prior patent. In the present case,

these aligned locking and retaining tabs 120 and 122 are further aligned with the cartons 10 at the open ends thereof and adjacent corners thereof so as to serve further at their inwardly extending secured position as means for retaining the cartons 10 laterally within the overwrapped package 100. For the same purpose, additional inwardly displaceable tabs 124 may be advantageously provided in the outer lap panel 118 `adjacent its foldably hinged edge, and in the end wall panel at 126 adjacent both foldably hinged edges thereof. Also, the end will panel 110 and the inner lap panel 116 have embossed portions 128 and 130 formed therein to present inwardly displaced shock absorbing surfaces at the ends of the light bulbs B and thereby provide further protection at these points for the pulbs B in the overwrapped package 100.

In this ylatter connection, Fig. 11 shows a modified form of overwrap blank `for forming a package 200, as seen in Figs. l2 to 14, with a varied form of shock absorbing means.

The Fig. 11 blank is substantially like the one previously described in that it is of corresponding rectangular form with transverse scores at 202, 204, 206 and 208 for defining a centrally situated end wall panel 210, a pair of side wall panels 212 and 214 at each side thereof, and pair of lap panels 216 and 218 at the respective ends of the blank; the outer lap panel 218 being `formed with locking tabs 220 and 222 and the other lap panel 216 with retaining tabs 224 and 226 for securing the overwrap in forming the package 200, and the outer lap panel 218 also having inwardly displaceable tabs 228 formed therein for use in retaining cartons 10 laterally within the package 200 in the manner noted above. Fig. 11 also illustrates the formation of the intermediately situated locking tabs 222 in the outer lap `panel 218 and the related retaining tabs 226 in lap panel 216 to correspond more nearly with the inwardly displaceable tabs 228 for greater lateral retaining action therewith, which is advisable in the presently described embodiment because no corresponding means is provided at the opposite end of the package 200 in this embodiment.

Instead, the opposite end of package 200, which is formed by the overwrap blank end wall panel 210 is arranged to provide the varied form of shock absorbing means mentioned above. For this purpose, the end wall panel 210 has scored hinge lines 230 formed therein parallel to the scores 204 and 206 by which it is defined and spaced inwardly therefrom at positions located centrally with respect to the open ends of cartons l0 contained within the package 200. From the ends of these scored hinge lines 230, the end wall panel 210 is slit, as indicated at 232, in an extent reaching across the respectively adjacent dening scores 204 and 206 and termlnating at spaced parallel hinge lines 234 scored in the respectively adjacent side wall panels 212 and 214, and the resulting slit portions of end wall panel 210 have further parallel hinge lines 236 scored intermediately therein so as to be offset with respect to the defining scores 204 and 206. By Virtue of this arrangement, the slit portions of end wall panel 210 are caused to project adjacent the intermediate scores 236 therein as a result of the folded disposition of the adjacent side wall panels 212 and 214 in the package 200, as illustrated best in Fig. 14, and these projecting slit portions provide very effective shock absorbing means for light bulbs B enclosed by carton y10 within the package 200. It should be further noted that the slits 232 forming these portions in the end wall panel 210 are preferably angled so that the slit portions taper toward the hinge lines 234 therefor in side wall panels 212 and 214 and are accordingly readily freed to assume their projecting disposition upon folding of side walls 212 and 214 with respect to end wall P31161. @19s 21S, Well as remaining :free at their slit sides upori'zreaching the :projected disposition so as to flex easily in performing their shock absorbing action.

'The other end of '.the package 200'formed by the lap panels 216 and .2i1l8'may vbe provided withV shock absorbing meanscomparable to that of the previously described embodiment byvforming. inwardly directed embossed portions ."2'38 and240 in the respective lap panels 216 and 218 with a'crosswise relation .to the adjacent ends of the light bulbs :B as .contained within the package 200.

he A'present :invention has ,been described in detail vaboveftor .purposes of illustration'only and is not intended .to ybe .limited rby.this description or otherwise except as defined vin 'the appended claims.

- zI-fclaim:

l. A carton of vthe v.character described comprising foldablyiconneetedside walls, one of said side walls hav- .ing-.aziapimember thereonsecured at the inner face of amailjacentsideiwall, said ilap member being diagonally scoredwithr'espect to 4said adjacent side wall, being unsecured beyond -the diagonalzscore therein,fbeing formed beyond `the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said scorecorresponding substantially to the diagonal length across vsaid adjacent side wall on said axis; and withgarelatedwidth corresponding substantially .to-the'gwidthof saidrflrstmentionedfside wall, and standing uprightl-yrfrom vsaid diagonalscore as a partition withinl=said carton .disposed diagonally with respect to the .erect 4cross'section thereof,

, LQ. Acarton of'the character described comprising a collapsible, 'open-ended, sleeve-formed by four side walls foldably; hinged in seriesand paired in opposed'relationy with aiiapmember foldably hinged on one terminal side Wall and secured at the inner face of the other terminal side wall of said series, said iiap member being scored diagonally with respect to said other terminal side wall and being proportioned beyond the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across said other terminal side wall on said axis and with a related width corresponding substantially to the width of said first mentioned terminal side wall, and said iiap member standing uprightly from said diagonal score as a partition within said sleeve, disposed diagonally with respect to the erect cross section thereof.

3. A carton of the character described comprising an open-ended sleeve formed by four side walls foldably hinged in series and paired in opposed relation with a flap member foldably hinged on one terminal side wall and secured at the inner face of the other terminal side wall of said series over a continuous lengthwise area adjacent the free edge of said other terminal side wall, said ap member having a portion intermediate the length thereof extending transversely in excess of the width of said other terminal side wall, said intermediate flap portion being diagonally scored with respect to said other terminal side wall and being proportional beyond the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across said other terminal side wall on said axis and with a related width corresponding substantially to the width of the adjacent side walls, and said intermediate iiap portion standing uprightly from said diagonal score as a partition within said sleeve disposed diagonally with respect to the erect cross section thereof.

4. A carton of the character described for containing a pair of light bulbs, said carton comprising four foldably connected side Walls of equal width, one of said side walls having a ilap member thereon secured at the inner face of an adjacent side wall over a continuous area lengthwise of said adjacent side wall along the rear edge thereof, said ilap member having a portion intermediate the length thereof extending transversely in excess of the width of said adjacent side Wall, said intermediate flap portion being diagonally scored with respect to said adjacent side wall and being proportioned beyond the diagonal score therein `with a length 'parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across 4said side walls on said axis and a related width corresponding substantially to the width of said side walls, and said intermediate flap portion standing uprightly from said diagonal score as a partition within said carton disposed diagonally with respect to the erect cross section thereof.

5. A carton as de'lined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said side walls are proportioned in width with respect to the diameter of the bulbous ends of said light bulbs and in length with respect to the aggregate length of a pair of said light bulbs having the base ends thereof nested at opposite sides of the diagonally disposed partition formed by said intermediate ilap portion.

6. A carton as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said llap member extends in face to face relation with said adjacent side wall between the near edge thereof and said diagonal score beyond the point at which the bulbous end of the light bulb thereat is tangent .to said adjacent side wall, and the end edge of said intermediate ilap portion nearest said adjacent side wall near edge being notchedrto shape said ap member so that it extends similarly in face to face relation with said adjacent side wall at the point at which the bulbous end of the `other light bulb lof said pair is tangent to said adjacent side wall.

-7. A carton as defined-in claim 4 and further characterized in'that the carton structure is formed of corrugated .paperboard with the corrugations arranged to run Widthlwise ofsaid side walls and consequently extending angu- -larly of and thereby additionally stiffening the diagonally disposed partition formed by said intermediate flapportion.

8. A carton as defined in claim 7 and further characterized in that said corrugated paperboard is single faced with the corrugations thereof disposed at the inner faces of said side walls, and the end edge of said diagonally disposed partition that is remote Ifrom the side rwall having said ap member thereon is angularly inclined with respect to said diagonal score axis so as to shape said partition with an acute corner thereat, whereby said inclined end edge is formed for riding smoothly over the corrugations at the opposed side wall during erection of said foldably connected side walls from a collapsed position.

9. A carton of the character described for containing a pair of light bulbs, said carton comprising four side walls of equal width, said side walls being foldably connected for rendering said carton collapsible to a flat condition and for allowing erection thereof to the form of an open-ended sleeve, the foldable connection between two of said side walls being formed by a iiap member on one of said side walls secured at the inner face of an adjacent edge portion of the other, said flap member having a portion intermediate the length thereof extending transversely in excess of the width of said other side wall, said intermediate flap portion being diagonally scored with respect to said other side wall and being proportioned beyond the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across said side walls on said axis and a related Iwidth corresponding substantially to the width of said side walls, and said intermediate flap portion standing uprightly from said Idiagonal score as a partition within said carton disposed diagonally with respect to the erect cross section thereof and being caused to assume said diagonal upright disposition by the erection of said side walls.

10. A paperboard blank for forming a carton of the character described comprising side wall panels foldably hinged in series with a flap member foldably hinged at the terminal edge of `one of the terminal side wall panels of said series, said ilap member having an adjacent portion extending lengthwise of said terminal edge in a widthwise extent less than the width of the other terminal side Wall panel of said series, and said flap member having a remote portion extending transversely and scored diagonally with respect to said terminal edge and proportioned beyond the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across said other terminal side Wall panel parallel to said axis and with a related width corresponding substantially to the width of said first mentioned terminal side wall panel.

l1. A paperboard blank for forming a carton of the character described comprising four side wall panels of equal length and width foldably hinged in a widthwise series, a flap member also foldably hinged in said series on one of the terminal side Wall panels thereof, said ilap member having an adjacent portion of substantial width that is foldably hinged coextensively in length on said terminal sidewall panel, said adjacent flap member portion width being less than the width of the other terlminal side wall panel of said series, said ap member being further formed with a remote portion intermediate the length thereof extending transversely and scored diagonally with respect to said rst mentioned terminal side wall panel, the aggregate widthwise extent of said adjacent and remote ap member portions exceeding the width of said other terminal side wall panel, and said remote ilap member portion being proportioned beyond the diagonal score therein with a length parallel to the axis of said score corresponding substantially to the diagonal length across said other terminal side wall panel parallel to said axis and with a related width correspond- 8 ing substantially to the width of said iirst mentioned terminal side wall panel.

l2. A paperboard blank as dened in claim 11 and further characterized in that said adjacent ap member portion has a width between the foldably hinged edge thereof and said `diagonal score that exceeds one-half the width of said other terminal side wall panel over a length reaching from a point intermediate the length of said diagonal score to the end of said flap member adjacent the end of said diagonal score remote from said foldably hinged edge, and in that the portion of said ap member extending beyond said diagonal score is notched adjacent the other end of said diagonal score so as to form said adjacent ilap member portion with a comparable widthwise extent at the other end thereof.

13. A paperboard blank as dened in claim l1 and further characterized in that the angle of the diagonal score in said ap member is such as to render said ap member completely internestable in inverted relation with the corresponding hap member of a like blank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,855 Fuller Nov. 22, 1932 2,358,664 Shailer Sept. 19, 1944 2,578,583 OBrien Dec. 11, 1951 2,601,192 Wesley June 17, 1952 2,611,529 Currivan Sept. 23, 1952 2,611,531 Conkle Sept. 23, 1952 2,723,795 MacKenzie Nov. 15, 1955 2,759,654 Vander Lugt Aug. 21, 1956 2,786,572 Gentry Mar. 26, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'Patent No,s 2,905,316

of the abovel numbered Patent should read as Column 4, line ll, tor 56j for "proportionaln read "the rear" read the near Signed and sealed this (SEAL) Attest:

KARL HQ XLTNE Attesting Oflcer TTFTCATE @erhmmm September 22, 1959 Homer W, Forrer appears in the printed specification correction and that the said Letters ithfdy 'ofljApril 1960.

ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

